CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health

The group is a partner of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a pro-abortion feminist group with a focus on black women. ³

Background

CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health was founded in 1974 in Memphis, Tennessee, one year after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. ¹

Suing To Block Abortion Restrictions

In July 2020, CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health, represented by the ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, filed a lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s ban on abortions after six weeks when a heartbeat is detected. ⁴

The lawsuit was eventually dismissed due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and handing expansive powers to regulate abortion back to the states in July 2022. ⁴

Expansion Into Other Services

In September 2020, CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health’s clinic became the first in the nation to offer abortion and birth services under the same roof. The clinic also added HIV prevention and transgender services. ⁵

The group’s goals for adding the new services were to provide a way to keep the clinic open if Tennessee banned abortion and to promote the group’s efforts to destigmatize abortion. ⁵

Tennessee Legislation

In 2021, CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health saw 5,266 patients, the vast majority of whom were black. The clinic performed nearly 3,900 abortions. ¹

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs decision which allowed states to regulate abortion. Within days of the ruling, a Tennessee law banning abortions beyond six weeks took effect. In August 2022, a second Tennessee law banning abortions completely took effect. ¹

The clinic in Memphis stopped performing abortions. Later in 2022, the group opened an abortion clinic in Carbondale, Illinois which is on the same Amtrak railroad line as Memphis. ¹

The Memphis staff transitioned from performing abortion services to other services at the Memphis clinic. The group was able to avoid laying off its staff. ¹

Performing Abortions After Dobbs

According to the group’s 2022 Annual Report, CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health performed 3,108 abortions between its Memphis, Tennessee and Carbondale, Illinois locations and 48.5 percent of its total appointments were for abortions. Some 72 percent of its patients were black. ²

According to the 2022 Annual Report, abortions generated $2,165,111 in revenue, which was tied for its largest source of annual revenue. ²

Abortion funds and an internal patient assistance fund contributed $937,580. Among the abortion funds that paid for abortions at the group’s clinics were the National Abortion Federation, ARC-Southeast, Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Program, Abortion Care Tennessee, Arkansas Abortion Support Network, Chicago Abortion Fund, Hoosier Abortion Fund, Kentucky Health Justice Network, A Fund Inc. Kentucky, and SisterReach. ²

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

As of March 2024, CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health is a partner of the left-of-center feminist, pro-abortion group Black Mamas Matter Alliance. ³

Leadership

CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health president and CEO is Jennifer Pepper. ⁶

The chair of the board is Tennessee State Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis). ⁶

Financials

According to CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health’s 2022 tax return, the group had $1,884,081 in revenue, $6,249,511 in expenses, and $9,440,378 in assets. ⁷

According to the 2022 Annual Report, Anonymous Foundation, Abortion Care Network, AIDS United (Southern HIV Impact Fund), Argosy Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, Digital Defense Fund, Groundswell Fund, Irving Harris Foundation, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, MAC Viva Glam Fund, National Network of Abortion Funds, National Women’s Law Center, NEO Philanthropy, New World Foundation, Oak Hill Fund, Prentice Foundation, Shelby County Government, Society of Family Planning, Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center, Tara Health Foundation, Vivo Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Women Donors Network, and many individual donors donated to the group. ²